carl grimes imagines;

In A Heartbeat

You've had a crush on Carl ever since you first laid eyes on him, and that was long before the apocalypse, long before you lost your childhood, your happiness, your family.
But it didn't matter; you never thought he'd feel the same. You, in his mind, were just his best friend. It wasn't right to see you as anything more. That spot was reserved for the new girl in his life, Enid.
"She's amazing." Carl tells you, putting his hands in his pockets as he looks down at the ground, a bashful smile on his face. You couldn't help but smile at the sight of his own, even if it wasn't because of you.
"You'd be great for her." You say, hoping you don't sound too jealous. He glances up at you, nodding before giving a slight shrug. "What, you don't think so?"
"I'm not the best." He laughs awkwardly, a hint of sadness in his voice. You stop walking, grabbing his arm to keep him in his tracks. You swallow the lump in your throat. What were you doing?
"What do you mean?" You ask, letting go of his arm and crossing yours. Your brow raises as he lets out a sigh and shakes his head.
"I mean it's just..." He pauses, staring at the ground blankly before looking back up at you. "I don't know. It seems like she's into Ron."
Something rushes over you. Relief? Anger? You're not sure, but whatever it is, it causes you to feel dizzy. You put a hand to your forehead before rubbing it.
"You okay?" Carl asks, snapping you back to reality. You nod.
"I don't understand why she'd choose him over you." You admit, chewing your bottom lip in anticipation and worry over what he'll respond with. But he stays quiet, only his eyes widening. "I'd choose you every time. In a heartbeat."
It's quiet for a while until a hand reaches for yours, slowly pulling you forward. You stop once you feel one of Carl's hands on your waist, the other on your cheek. Suddenly his lips crash against yours, and you don't hesitate to kiss back, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him closer. He pulls away too soon to catch his breath.
"Holy shit..." You breathe out, causing Carl to smirk in response. He blushes profusely, clearing his throat awkwardly.
"I didn't know you felt the same way. Because honestly, when it comes down to it, I'd choose you every time, too. In a heartbeat."